I had a great holiday season, and one of the best moments was when a sweet friend stepped in and did something really kind for me:
{my hands look so weird here, I have no idea how people take a photo like this and make it look normal!}
After creating a photo book of my 365 photos from 2011 I decided to do the same for 2012. I chose to go through Shutterfly for 2012's photos and had a great time putting everything together (look for another post where I compare Blurb and Shutterfly).
Like all of you I have a budget and work hard for my money. I don't have unlimited funds and when I'm spending on myself I am pretty careful about what I purchase. I also strongly believe I don't deserve everything nor do I think it's unfair that people have "more" than me.
{Both photo books start with a quote on photography. I love how Shutterfly has so many template options! I was really surprised.}
I have to have packages sent to my parent's home. The breeze way at my apt. where packages are dropped isn't locked and packages are stolen out of there from time to time. I live in a safe neighborhood, but people are desperate and I've seen suspicious behavior so I wanted to do the due diligence and have my photo book delivered to my parent's home.
{I divided this book into seasons and each started with a collage, this is also the only text in my book besides the quote. I really love how it looks!}
Well, I tracked my package and it had been delivered. I went home to find it, no luck. I checked again and mom looked as well. It was delivered during the heart of Christmas shopping season; we all realized that it had been stolen. I was so hurt. To know that someone follows the mail truck or seeks out packages on people's porches is really disappointing to me. Are we really living in that kind of world? Do people believe they are entitled to other people's hard earned purchases? Do people not realize taking or opening another person's mail is a felony?
{I had to include a spread of my apartment photos, DIY was a big part of my life in 2012!}
Did they have any idea that the book would be of no resale value, but was important to me? It kind of creeps me out to think some thief looked through my book of photos and probably was disappointed that it wasn't "valuable."
{While I didn't include all 365 images in my book, I did throw a few extras in, like this visit I took to my Uncle's farm in April 2012.}
I wrote a sassy facebook status about it and went on with my night. I figured after January I could probably get another, but it did feel like lots of money and time down the drain. Did I mention that when I ordered my book I used a 50% off coupon? I knew I probably wasn't going to get another great deal like that one.
{All in all, I'm really glad that I do the 365 project. I love looking back and this book is fun to have around to show people.}
Mary sent me a text letting me know how badly she felt for me. I was grateful for her gesture. A minute later I checked my e-mail to find the message: thank you for your Shutterfly order, your order is on it's way. Huh, I wondered, that's strange. Then my phone lit up again with another text message from Mary: well, a new book is on its way to you.
{The final photo in my 2012 book, a cup of coffee.}
It took a few seconds for me to put it all together, but Mary had bought me a new photo book! I called her shaking, almost in tears and completely overwhelmed by her kindness. The thing is, my friend Mary is like me, she and her family work hard for their money and as a fellow photographer she knew how special that book would be to me.
{Both of my photo books together 2011 & 2012. It feels so good to have them both done!}
I'm so lucky to call Mary a friend. I've not been on the receiving end of something like this before and it makes you feel really looked out for. Thank you again, Mary!
{I really like how the cover turned out. I'm sure I could of picked a "better" photo, but this was truly one of my favorites because it's real life!}
